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Retrial of former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell begins

Former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell faces charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter stemming from the August 2018 shooting death of Donna Castleberry, 23.
Former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell faces charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter stemming from the August 2018 shooting death of Donna Castleberry, 23.

Jury selection started Monday in the murder retrial of former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell.

Mitchell is charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter for the August 2018 shooting of Donna Castleberry.

His second murder trial comes nearly a year after the first ended in a deadlocked jury and mistrial.

Mitchell killed Castleberry, 23, while allegedly working undercover as part of an attempted prostitution sting. He shot Castleberry six times in the back of an unmarked police car after she cut his hand with a knife. Mitchell claims he acted in self-defense, while prosecutors say he used excessive and unreasonable force to kill Castleberry.

In 2021 Columbus City Council approved a more than $1 million settlement with Castleberry's family.

Mitchell faces life in prison if convicted of a murder charge. If convicted of manslaughter, Mitchell faces three to 11 years in prison.

Opening statements begin Tuesday.

Mitchell also faces a July trial on federal charges of forcing women to have sex in order to win their freedom.